Draft Council budget promises new community facilities and road improvements

The City of Whittlesea has released its draft Budget for 2017/18 with highlights including new community facilities, improvements to leisure and recreational facilities, road improvements and the continued delivery of important community services.

The proposed budget of $247million will see $193 million being spent on delivering more than 100 services to the community and $54 million on improving roads, sporting grounds and Council facilities around the City.

More than $9 million will be spent on improving roads, paths and streetscape upgrades and nearly $16 million on improving sporting grounds and recreational facilities.

Exciting projects include a new community pavilion and two soccer pitches at Doreen South Reserve and Lalor West Reserve, refurbishment of the Whittlesea Aquatic Centre and redevelopment of the Mill Park Leisure Centre.

Council is also proposing to increase the discount on the Differential Farm Rate for farm land from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. With around 70 per cent of the City of Whittlesea comprising rural land, this move will support farmers and agricultural production in the municipality.

The Budget will enable Council to continue delivering a vast range of services and community programs, improve assets and infrastructure while keeping rates to the two per cent rate cap set by the State Government.